Angel in Training

This week, I wanted to share a story I heard a long time ago that's always stuck with me. I don't remember where I first heard it, and I would gladly give full credit to whoever came up with it if I did know. Since I don't, I will do my best to tell my own version of the tale, highlighting what I loved about it. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this story as much as I do.

A long time ago, there were two angels walking down a dirt road. There was a young angel (David) who was eager to get started with his work as quickly as he could, thinking he knew all there was to know, and there was an older angel (Greg) who hoped to send his protégé off with the wisdom he needed to do his job. They travelled down to Earth and began walking down a long dirt road. Greg told of his life experiences, and David did his best to impress. He certainly knew a lot, but he had never actually encountered humans before. This, Greg said, was vital to being successful. As they continued walking, he suggested they stop for the night. It was getting late, and they should rest before the next day. They stopped at the next house they saw—a large estate with farmland that went off into the distance and 100s of livestock—and Greg knocked on the door.

A woman answered and curtly asked "What do you want?" Greg politely explained that they were tired and hungry with no place to sleep, and no money to their names.The woman looked off put, and soon her husband joined her at the door to see what the fuss was about. They argued about what to do, but ultimately invited their unexpected guests in. They didn't want one of their neighbors down the road to know how selfish they were, or worse yet: to think they were too poor to provide. They gave David and Greg some stale bread, a chunk of leftover cheese that was just starting to mold, and a glass of water each. While the angels ate, the couple gossiped about their neighbors and what status symbols they lacked. Apparently the Millers only had half as many cows while the Johnsons had about 20 fewer acres of farmable land. Once the angels finished their meal, they were shown to the basement where they were to sleep. There was no bed, but instead two hay piles they could use. Once David and Greg were inside the basement, the couple locked it from the outside and warned their guests not to steal anything. They could sleep until morning, but then they had to move on.

The two angels prepared their "beds", said their prayers, and soon they were off to sleep. David didn't fall asleep though: he was struck by how greedy his hosts had been, even if they had given him food and shelter. They had plenty, but they wouldn't share any of it. He wondered what would happen to them, and why the older angel didn't do anything. Just then, Greg quietly arose and started walking towards the stairs. Here it is, David thought. They are getting their comeuppance. David quietly turned his body so that he could watch what Greg did. Greg stopped at a small hole in the wall, looked at it thoughtfully, and then patched it. He used his angelic powers to mend the wall so that it was like nothing bad had ever happened. David was surprised. He wanted justice dispensed, but instead Greg was kind to the selfish couple. David felt bad for the thoughts in his heart, and he prayed for patience and wisdom—like Greg clearly already had.

The next morning, the couple came down to evict their guests. They found both David and Greg already waiting and the area where they had slept had been carefully cleaned. They hurried the angels—who looked to them like mere humans—out the door and back onto the road. David wanted to say something to Greg about the night before, but he didn't want to be caught snooping. Instead, he said nothing. Eventually Greg started up conversation, and the two men again began sharing thoughts about humanity and their nature. This time, however, David did more listening and less talking. He wanted to learn more from his mentor. They talked about war, poverty, hunger, and all the maladies that humans faced in their short lives.

Soon, night again began to fall and Greg once again suggested that they look for lodging. They stopped at the next house they saw, though this time it was much smaller. It was barely big enough to hold one room, and the only sign of wealth outside was a single cow with a bell around it's neck. Greg knocked three times, and almost immediately the door was opened by an old man. Before Greg could tell of his plight, the old man invited him in and offered him a seat. The old man's wife fetched some water and whatever food she could find in the house. Greg and David were obliged to sit while the old couple waited on them. The woman asked where they had come from and couldn't wait to hear all they had to share. Her husband began cooking up the rest of their meat, and soon presented it to the guests. They insisted the angels eat their fill and tried their best to convince them to stay an extra night. David wanted to take them up on the offer, but Greg insisted it could only be the one night. After their meal, they all went to sit outside under the stars since it was a warm night. The old couple showed David and Greg their prized cow, bragging about how they raised her from just a tiny calf. Apparently they were unable to have children, so this cow was their pet and a part of their family. After a couple more hours of talking, the couple showed the angels where they would sleep. It was the couple's bed, and the only one in the house. David tried to refuse the offer, but the couple insisted. So, David and Greg shared the master bed while their hosts slept on the floor of the main room.

That night, David eagerly waited to see what kindness Greg would do for their new, kinder hosts. Maybe he would leave them enough money to move into a nicer home. Maybe he would leave them with more food. Perhaps he would give them another pet they could love. He was giddy with anticipation. He fell asleep wondering what would happen that night. In the middle of the night, David was woken by Greg getting out of bed. 'This was it' he thought. Let's see what happens. Greg quietly walked out of the front door and around to the side. David could see Greg through a small window; he was talking to someone—or something—in a dark cloak. Greg pointed down to the couple's cow, the dark figure touched it, and it fell dead on the spot. David was shaken. He felt sick. Greg was coming though, so once again he feigned sleep so as not to get caught. He didn't sleep a wink that night as he gritted his teeth in frustration.

The next morning, David awoke to an empty bed, as well as the sound of muffled crying. The old woman was crying as she had discovered her lost pet lying outside., and the old man also looked dejected. He held her and told her it would be alright. He told her that as long as he had her, everything would work out for them. She smiled, got back to her feet, and wiped the tears from her eyes. She apologized for waking David and said she would make some breakfast right away. Greg thanked the woman and offered his condolences for what had happened. David continued to grit his teeth—now in anger. After breakfast, Greg said a blessing over their house and the two angels were off once again. Finally, David could hold his silence no longer.

"So?" David said. "What do you have to say for yourself?"

Greg looked at him and said "What's bothering you David?

"What's bothering me? What's bothering me? The rich couple we stayed with had enough food to feed a village, and they barely gave us a scrap. The locked us in their basement, and they couldn't wait to kick us out at the first chance they got. Nevertheless, you patched a hole in their wall. You showed them kindness, and I was impressed. However, then we met that old couple. They barely had anything, but they happily gave it all to us. They withheld nothing! And what kindness do you show them? You kill their pet. You killed the only thing they held dear." David fought back tears as he yelled at his mentor.

"So you were watching me, huh?" David nodded in the affirmative. "Let me explain David." They stopped walking and sat down on a couple large rocks on the side of the road. "When we stayed with the first couple, they were stingy with their wealth and jealous about their neighbors possessions. Clearly their money has not brought them happiness. When we were brought down to the basement, I noticed something behind the damaged wall: gold bars neatly stacked, but clearly hidden by a previous owner. Since money wasn't bringing this couple happiness, I hid the gold by patching the wall. I didn't want them to be any more miserable than they already were."

"Okay." David said. "But what about the old couple?"

"The old couple were two of the most generous people I have ever been fortunate enough to meet. They had almost nothing, but they willingly gave us everything. They were the definition of charity and giving. That night, I noticed the Angel of Death coming down to the house, and I knew something bad was coming. Apparently it was the old woman's time to go. I knew this would break her husband's heart, so I had to do something. I spoke to the Angel and convinced him to instead take the cow in place of the woman. To the outside world, it would look like I patched the rich couple's wall and killed the poor couple's cow. In reality, I tried to save the rich couple from their own greed and I hoped to give the old couple some more time together—if only a few more days. Being an angel is not about helping those we like. We must ascribe to help everyone we can at every moment, especially the ones we don't like."